Data center management using virtualized data center inventory

• US 9,489,399 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Laporte, Russell, Collins, Daniel, Pawar, Ankita, Liang, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Toan
• Application Number:
  US13/720,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for locating a target IT component in a data center. A first identification marker is scanned by a mobile computing device. A location of the first identification marker in the data center based on a virtual representation of the data center is determined by the mobile computing device. An identity of the target IT component is received. A location of the rack containing the target IT component in the data center based on the virtual representation of the data center is determined by the mobile computing device. A map of the data center, wherein the map of the data center includes first indicia of the location of the first identification marker and second indicia of the location of the rack containing the target IT component, is displayed by the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A method executed on a mobile computing device for locating a target IT component in a data center comprising:

scanning, by the mobile computing device, a first identification marker;

determining, by the mobile computing device, a location of the first identification marker in the data center based on a virtual representation of the data center;

receiving, by the mobile computing device, an identity of the target IT component;

determining, by the mobile computing device, an identity of a rack containing the target IT component based on a virtual representation of the data center;

determining, by the mobile computing device, a location of the rack containing the target IT component in the data center based on the virtual representation of the data center;

displaying, by the mobile computing device, a map of the data center, wherein the map of the data center includes first indicia of the location of the first identification marker and second indicia of the location of the rack containing the target IT component;

scanning, by the mobile computing device, a second identification marker;

determining, by the mobile computing device, whether the second identification marker is associated with the target IT component or the rack containing the target IT component;

when the second identification marker is associated with the rack containing the target IT component;

displaying, by the mobile computing device, a representation of the rack containing the target IT component;

scanning, by the mobile computing device, a third identification marker; and

when the third identification marker is associated with the target IT component, displaying, by the mobile computing device, third indicia representing that the target IT component is located.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the second identification marker is associated with the target IT component, displaying third indicia representing that the target IT component is located.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third indicia representing that the target IT component is located comprises a representation of the target IT component in the rack containing the target IT component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the target IT component is a server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identification marker and the second identification marker are QR codes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indicia of the location of the rack containing the target IT component comprises a representation of the rack containing the target IT component.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking, by the mobile computing device, a location of the mobile computing device in the data center; and

displaying, by the mobile computing device, the first indicia at the location of the mobile computing device.

8. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising instructions being operable to cause a mobile computing device to:

scan a first identification marker;

determine a location of the first identification marker in the data center based on a virtual representation of the data center;

receive an identity of the target IT component;

determine an identity of a rack containing the target IT component based on a virtual representation of the data center;

determine a location of the rack containing the target IT component in the data center based on the virtual representation of the data center;

display a map of the data center, wherein the map of the data center includes first indicia of the location of the first identification marker and second indicia of the location of the rack containing the target IT component;

scan a second identification marker;

determine whether the second identification marker is associated with the target IT component or the rack containing the target IT component;

when the second identification marker is associated with the rack containing the target IT component;

display a representation of the rack containing the target IT component;

scan a third identification marker; and

when the third identification marker is associated with the target IT component, display third indicia representing that the target IT component is located.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising instructions being operable to cause a mobile computing device to:

when the second identification marker is associated with the target IT component, display third indicia representing that the target IT component is located.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the third indicia representing that the target IT component is located comprises a representation of the target IT component in the rack containing the target IT component.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the target IT component is a server.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first identification marker and the second identification marker are QR codes.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the second indicia of the location of the rack containing the target IT component comprises a representation of the rack containing the target IT component.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising instructions being operable to cause a mobile computing device to:

track a location of the mobile computing device in the data center; and

display the first indicia at the location of the mobile computing device.

15. A mobile computing device comprising:

a scanner;

a display; and

a data center management module configured to;

scan a first identification marker;

determine a location of the first identification marker in the data center based on a virtual representation of the data center;

receive an identity of the target IT component;

determine an identity of a rack containing the target IT component based on a virtual representation of the data center;

determine a location of the rack containing the target IT component in the data center based on the virtual representation of the data center;

display, on the display, a map of the data center, wherein the map of the data center includes first indicia of the location of the first identification marker and second indicia of the location of the rack containing the target IT component;

scan a second identification marker;

determine whether the second identification marker is associated with the target IT component or the rack containing the target IT component;

when the second identification marker is associated with the rack containing the target IT component;

display, on the display, a representation of the rack containing the target IT component;

scan a third identification marker and;

when the third identification marker is associated with the target IT component, display third indicia representing the target IT component is located.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the data center management module is further configured to:

when the second identification marker is associated with the target IT component, display, on the display, third indicia representing the target IT component is located.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the data center management module is further configured to:

track a location of the mobile computing device in the data center; and

display, on the display, the first indicia at the location of the mobile computing device.